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NBA mock draft tracker: Jaylen Brown to Suns?

The NBA draft is coming up fast (June 23) and the Suns have three picks in the first round. Who could they take? Take a look at some players associated with the team in mock drafts. Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports

NBA mock draft tracker: Possible Phoenix Suns picks

The NBA draft is coming up fast (June 23) and the Suns have three picks in the first round. Who could they take? Take a look at some players associated with the team in mock drafts.
Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports

NBA mock draft tracker for Suns' No. 4 pick:

It writes: "While California’s Jaylen Brown’s skill set isn’t yet developed enough to take full advantage of his athletic gifts, he’d give the Suns some much-needed athleticism in the front court, and has quite a bit of upside to warrant the pick."

He writes: "The Suns need help on the wing -- and Brown would be the best wing available. He didn't close strong at Cal. But the 19-year-old athlete was mostly terrific in Pac-12 play. He's a great upside pick who should be capable of guarding three, and maybe even four, positions in the NBA. And that ability is now more important than ever considering how regularly teams are using small-ball lineups featuring small forwards playing power forward."

It writes: "It's easy to see the Suns considering several different directions here. Brown has the kind of elite athleticism that translates into a great open-court player, a good rebounder for a wing and the potential to be a high-level defender, all with good size for a small forward. That package came through even as he shared time with Ivan Rabb, a possible lottery pick before deciding to return to school, and Tyrone Wallace, who should get drafted. Brown was the Pacific 12 Conference Freshman of the Year."

It writes: "The reviews on Brown weren't stellar at the NBA Combine, but his skill set — as a big, physical wing player — perfectly fits with the pieces that Phoenix already has. Plug Brown in with Devin Booker, Alex Len, Brandon Knight and Eric Bledsoe, and the Suns have the makings of a future playoff team."

He writes: "Where were you when the Marquese Chriss revolution happened? Coming into this draft, Dragan Bender was the clear favorite to inspire the most stupid Game of Thrones references, but now Chriss has me thinking of The Climb. He only began playing basketball five years ago, and he entered Washington as a relative unknown. When he declared, he was pegged as a mid-first round pick. Now he's being talked about in the five. He's likely the best athlete in the draft, with shooting touch out to three-point range, and all kinds of room to learn the game and grow. Does it make sense? On the one hand, this could very easily play out like another Stromile Swift situation. On the other hand, I loved Chriss as a late-lottery steal, and now, next to the rest of the lottery choices and all their questionable upside ... why not roll the dice on a potential All-Star?"

Hoopshype.com has Phoenix going with Dragan Bender, a power forward out of Croatia.

It writes: "The Suns are a team in need of talent and currently have no power forward on their roster after trading away Markieff Morris. While it's unlikely that Bender could assume a starting role next year, he could potentially become a starting four in the next couple seasons. It would seem to be beneficial to him, as is the case with other prospects, to go a few spots later in the draft and thus minimize the extreme expectations."

1. Philadelphia | Ben Simmons, Louisiana State, SF/PF, 6 feet 9, 240 pounds, 19 years old | For all the big men the 76ers have collected in the draft, here is the first skilled frontcourt player who can run an offense and be a potential star. Samantha Baker, AP

2. Los Angeles Lakers | Brandon Ingram, Duke, SF, 6-9, 195, 18 years old | The pick is easy no matter what the 76ers do. Just take whoever is left between Simmons and Ingram, although trading it is more of an option for the Lakers. Chris Carlson, AP

3. Boston | Jamal Murray, Kentucky, PG/SG, 6-4, 205, 19 years old | The Celtics’ 28th-ranked shooting could be bolstered by Jamal Murray, the latest Kentucky one-and-done sensation. Boston also could be an advantageous position to trade. Nati Harnik, AP

6. New Orleans | Kris Dunn, Providence, PG, 6-4, 220, 22 years old | The Pelicans need to take advantage of Anthony Davis now and getting a NBA-ready playmaker for him might be the best route to go. Julie Jacobson, AP

7. Denver | Marquese Chriss, Washington, PF, 6-10, 233, 18 years old | The Nuggets have roster balance, enabling them to shoot for the upside of Chriss in what might be an unpredictable run on young stretch power forwards. Chris Pietsch, AP

8. Sacramento | Jaylen Brown, California, SF, 6-7, 223, 19 years old | Brown can have an instant impact defensively with a strong NBA body and will on that end, which fits how Dave Joerger’s Memphis teams grinded. Young Kwak, AP

9. Toronto | Henry Ellenson, Marquette, PF, 6-11, 242, 19 years old | How the group of one-and-done, skilled power forwards plays out will have a lot to do with team workouts. As a conference finalist, the Raptors can shoot for upside here. Morry Gash, AP

10. Milwaukee | Jakob Poeltl, Utah, C, 7-1 239, 20 years old | Like Hield and Dunn, Poeltl showed great improvement by staying in college for another year beyond when he could have been drafted. He is physical inside on both sides of the floor. David Zalubowski, AP

11. Orlando | Skal Labissiere, Kentucky, PF, 7-0, 216, 20 years old | Labissiere failed to live up to his potential at Kentucky but scouts must decipher whether that is because he is soft or because his role did not suit him. Nati Harnik, AP

12. Utah | Deyonta Davis, Michigan State, PF, 6-10, 237, 19 years old | Davis was a backup Spartans power forward but has the sort of size and agility to be a rebounder, rim protector and defender in help and pick-and-roll situations. Charlie Riedel, AP

13. Phoenix | Denzel Valentine, Michigan State, SG/SF, 6-6, 210, 22 years old | The Suns likely would go opposite of their first pick with their second choice. If Bender is the young frontcourt choice early, then Valentine makes sense here. Jeff Roberson, AP

15. Denver | Furkan Korkmaz (right), Turkey, SG, 6-7, 185, 18 years old | With three top-20 picks, the Nuggets figure to go international on one. Opinions on that crop can vary widely but Korkmaz is the most consistently popular one outside Bender. STR, AFP/Getty Images

16. Boston | Domantas Sabonis, Gonzaga, PF, 6-10, 240, 20 years old | Sabonis curiously declined an invitation to the draft combine. He must feel secure about his first-round position to do so. Jonathan Daniel, Getty Images

17. Memphis | Demetrius Jackson, Notre Dame, PG, 6-1, 195, 21 years old | The Grizzlies have to think about replacing or backing up Mike Conley, an unrestricted free agent. If Baldwin is gone, Jackson and Kentucky’s Tyler Ulis are small choices for the position. Elsa, Getty Images

18. Detroit | Brice Johnson, North Carolina, PF, 6-10, 209, 21 years old | If the Pistons were looking for power forward help in February with the failed Donatas Motiejunas trade, perhaps they look here for help at that spot. Gerry Broome, AP

19. Denver | Taurean Prince, Baylor, SF, 6-8, 220, 21 years old | Prince fits the bill of a three-and-D player who has shown shooting range (38 percent on 3-pointers with high volume over the past two seasons) and the defensive ability to guard multiple positions. Tony Gutierrez, AP

20. Indiana | Tyler Ulis, Kentucky, PG, 5-10, 149, 20 years old | The Pacers need the offensive boost that Ulis can provide as a different time of playmaker behind George Hill. He is undersized (not even close to Kentucky’s listed 160 pounds). John Bazemore, AP

21. Atlanta | Timothe Luwawu, France, SG/SF, 6-7, 205, 20 years old | This could prove to be entirely too low if Luwawu’s reputation as a strong defender, shooter and athlete prove to be enough to overcome little experience against good competition. bcmegabasket

22. Charlotte | Malik Beasley, Florida State, SG, 6-5, 190, 19 years old | Beasley made 38 percent of his 3-point shots as a freshman and only figures to improve from long distance because of solid form. Steve Helber, AP

23. Boston | Ante Zizic, Croatia, C, 6-11, 235, 19 years old | After picking at Nos. 3 and 16, the Celtics likely would go with a draft-and-stash international player here. Let the great Zizic-Zubac debate begin. Fiba Europe

24. Philadelphia | Dejounte Murray, Washington, PG, 6-5, 170, 19 years old | It would too strange for Murray to skip the draft combine and not know that he was going to go in the first round somewhere. Elaine Thompson, AP

25. Los Angeles Clippers | DeAndre Bembry, St. Joseph’s, SG/SF, 6-6, 207, 21 years old | Bembry perhaps helped his stock as much as any player at the draft combine. Bembry does many things well, including passing to help with playmaking when Chris Paul is off the floor. Chris Szagola, AP

26. Philadelphia | Juan Hernangomez, Spain, PF, 6-9, 220, 20 years old | This is the 76ers’ third first-round pick, setting up a probably draft-and-stash situation if they have not traded one of the first two picks or pick another overseas player. File photo

27. Toronto | Cheick Diallo, Kansas, PF, 6-9, 219, 19 years old | Diallo played 7.5 minutes per game this season but his simple ability to dunk, block shots and rebound is enough to project more because he plays so hard and is a good teammate. Charlie Riedel, AP

28. Phoenix | Ivica Zubac, Bosnia, C, 7-1, 265, 19 years old | If the Suns keep their top two picks, they would likely use this pick to draft an international player who needs more overseas development. Dean Mouhtaropoulos, Getty Images

30. Golden State | Malachi Richardson, Syracuse, SG, 6-6, 200, 20 years old. | Richardson is not nearly ready for the NBA but she showed promise in the NCAA tournament and the Warriors will not be able to rely on Leandro Barbosa off the bench much longer. Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports